I don't want Canada's military spending increased by $20 billion.

Use available public dollars to improve social programs, to conserve the environment, and to build peace.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with President Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 13, 2017. Kevin Lamarque—Reuters

JUSTIN TRUDEAU

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being pressed to increase Canada's military spending. The pressure is coming from United States President Donald Trump, who is being supported by a large military establishment within Canada with close ties to the U.S. military and American-based weapons-builders.

They want Canada to double its military spending to reach 2 per cent of our national economy, measured as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This would be an increase of more than $20 billion a year for the military.

$19.3 billion

is Canada's military spending

16th highest

in global military spending

6th highest

in the 28-member NATO alliance

Instead of increases to military spending, the Canadians who have signed this petition support our tax dollars being used to improve social programs, to prevent climate change, and to build peace.

DONALD TRUMP

President Trump has pledged to increase U.S. military spending by $54 billion, creating a defence budget that will exceed $600 billion each year. His plan includes efforts to "bomb the Hell out of ISIS," increase the total number of ships in the US Navy fleet, build additional F-35 fighter jets to expand the Air Force, and increase America's nuclear forces.

The United States is already the highest military spender in the world. American military spending is nearly three times the spending of China, the second highest globally, and is nine times that of Russia, the world's third-highest military spender.

“I'm going to make our military so big, so powerful, so strong, that nobody — absolutely nobody — is gonna mess with us.”

— Donald Trump

NATO

On May 25, President Trump will be visiting Europe for the first time and will attend a meeting of national leaders of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Prime Minister Trudeau will attend the meeting, too.

NATO is a military alliance that includes the U.S., Canada and 26 European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

President Trump says that he will demand that NATO leaders increase their military spending to a level based on 2% of the size of the nation's entire economic output, or GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

Canada's Military Spending 2016-17 ($Billions)

Trump will demand that Canada double its military spending to 2% GDP

WE HAVE CHOICES

Above all else, Canadians cherish the social programs that we have worked so hard to build. Universal health care is but a dream for many people in the world — especially in the United States.

But there is much more work to be done to reduce poverty and inequality in Canada, and many ways to contribute to peace and global development.

Let's reject the path chosen by U.S. President Trump, and make our own decisions about what's best for Canada and our role in the world.

Instead of making walls and wars, Canada can build peace and prosperity.